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Nitrates are the primary medication used to relieve angina symptoms during episodes because they work by dilating blood vessels, which increases blood flow to the heart muscle and decreases the heart's workload. This action helps to alleviate the chest pain associated with angina by improving oxygen delivery to the heart. Nitrates can be administered in various forms, including sublingual tablets or sprays that provide rapid relief during an angina attack.

Other medication classes serve different purposes in cardiovascular management. ACE inhibitors primarily help manage blood pressure and heart failure by preventing the formation of angiotensin II, which can cause blood vessels to constrict. Beta blockers help reduce the heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand, which can prevent angina but are not typically used for immediate relief of acute episodes. Diuretics are used to reduce fluid overload and manage conditions such as hypertension and heart failure, but they do not directly address angina symptoms. Thus, they are not suitable for immediate angina relief.